Shock-absorber for vehicles.



PATENTED NOV. 19; 1907.

D. ROBINSON.

SHOCK ABSORBER FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 12. 1906.

UNITED STATES DUNCAN ROBINSON, OF BROOKLINE, B'IASSAGHUSETTS.

SHOCK-ABSORBER FOR VEHICLES.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUNCAN ROBINSON, of Brookline, county of Norfolk,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Shock-Absorbersfor Vehicles, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on thedrawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to controlling devicesfor spring supportedvehicles, ordinarily termed shock-absorbers, and has for its object toconstruct a simple, strong and durable device, which may be easilyapplied to automobiles, and which will operate to take up or absorb theshocks due to the vehicle passingover'the rises and hollows of anirregularly surfaced road.

My invention comprises essentially a circularly movablespring-controlled ring, which is connected in a stationary manner withthe running-gear, or to some part or member which is connected with therunning-gear, and is also connected with the body, so that it will beturned by the up and down movements of the body, relative to therunninggear, against the action of its controlling springs, whereby bothup and down move ments. of the body are restrained.

Figure 1 shows in side elevation a shockabsorber embodying thisinvention. Fig. 2 is a front. elevation of the shock-absorber shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the shock-absorber shown in Fig.2, taken on thedotted line 33. Fig. 4 is a side view of theshock-absorber removed, the end plate being broken away. Fig. 5 is ahorizontal section of the shock-absorber shown in Fig. 3, taken on thedotted line 55. Fig. 6 is a modification to be referred to.

(t represents a stationarily supported hub, which is herein shown as atriangularly shaped block, although it may be of any other shape, boltedor otherwise secured to one arm b of a bracket, the other arm I) ofwhich is rigidly connected with one of the springs of the vehicle, or,as far as my invention is concerned, it may be connected to any otherpart of or member which is connected with the running-gear, and which isindependent'of the vehicle body, the spring being merely selected forconvenience. The arm 7) herein shown is bolted to a plate b adapted tobe placed on the spring and to be held securely thereon by clips bAfplurality of C-springs d are placed in en- Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed December 12.1906. Serial No. 347.458.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

gagement with the block za,Zxvlficlflareiradially disposed with respectthereto, three such springs being herein shown. The edge of the block ais formed with curved seats a for the springs and with shoulders a,against which the ends of extensions d of said springs abut.

The block a and springs (Z are inclosed in a circularly movable ring 6,and the outer ends of the springs d are securely fastened to said ring,so that the ring is supported by said springs. It is designed andintended that the ring 6 shall be turned in the same direc tion, againstthe action of said springs d, to resist both the up and down movementsof the body relative to the running-gear, due ,to the passage of thevehicle over the rises and hollows of the road, so that said springsshall control the circular movement of the ring as well as support it,but as the essential function of said springs is to control the circularmovement of the ring it is immaterial how said ring is supported,whether by the springs or otherwise.

For simplicity of construction I prefer to arrange the springs as shown,to both support the ring and control its circular movement. Toaccomplish this result two volute springs f and g are attached at oneend to the ring 6 and at their opposite ends to depending brackets orarms on the body, see Figs. 1 to 5, or in lieu thereof straps f 9 may beemployed, see Fig. 6. The points of attachment of the two volute springsare at opposite sides of the center of the ring 6, and both extendpartially around the ring, so that one of them, as f, extends over thetop of the ring 6, and the other, as g extends under the bottom of thering e, and when thus disposed, relative to the ring 6, the outer end ofthe spring f extends downward and the outer end of the spring g extendsupward.

The outer end of the spring f is rigidly attached to the lower end of anarm f, which is bolted or otherwise secured to a bracketf on the body,and the outer end of the spring 9 is rigidly attached to the lower endof an arm g, which is bolted or otherwise secured to a bracket 9 on thebody. The operation of the device is as follows. l/Vhen the body of thevehicle suddenly drops the spring f is compressed and acts to turn thering e in the direction of the arrow thereon, against the action of thesprings (Z, the spring 9 at such time expanding or moving away from thering 6, and when the body suddenly rises the spring 9 is .compressed andacts to turn the ring e in the same direction, against the action ofsaid/springs d, the spring f at such time expanding or moving away fromthe rmg e.

The outer face of the ring (2 is cut away or formed to provide for theattachment of the volute springs f and g, and yet maintain its circularformation, so that circular end plates h and i may be placed upon theopposite sides of the ring to inclose the operating parts.

As herein shown the circular -plate 'i is formed integral with the huba, for simplicity of construction, but it is obvious that it may be madeas a separate plate, in which case the hub and plate will be rigidlysecured to the arm I) by the same bolts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a shock absorber for vehicles, thecombination of a circularly movable spring controlled ring connectedwith the runninggear, a pair of volute springs attached thereto atopposite sides of its center, and means connecting the outer ends ofsaid springs with the vehicle body, substantially as described.

2. In a shock absorber for vehicles, the combination of a hub connectedwith the runnmggear, a plurality of radially disposed springs engagingit, a circularly movable ring inclosin said hub and springs, to whichthe outer en s of said springs are attached, a pair of volute springsattached to said ring at opposite sides of its center and meansconnecting the outer ends of said volute springs with the vehicle body,substantially as described.

3. In a shock absorber for vehicles, the combination of a stationarilysupported hub connected with the running-gear and having a plurality ofseats and shoulders, a plurality of C-springsfitting said seats havingeXtensions abutting against said shoulders, a circularly movable ringinclosing said hub and springs, to which the outer ends of said springsare attached, a pair of volute springs attached at their inner ends tosaid ring at opposite sides of its center, and means for connecting theouter ends of said volute springs with the vehicle body, substantiallyas described.

4. In a shock absorber frr vehicles, the

' combination of a non-rotating hub connected the action of saidsprings, substantially as described.

5. In a shock absorber for vehicles, the combination of a circularlymovable springcontrolled ring connected with the runninggear, and meansoperated. by both the up and down movements of the vehicle body, relative to its running-gear, for turning said ring in the same directionfrom its normal position against the action of'its controlling springs,substantially as described.

6. In a shock absorber for vehicles, the combination of a circularlymovable ring, springs connected with the runninggear and with said ringfor supporting said ring and also for controlling its circular movement,and means operated by both the up and down movements of the vehicle,relative to its running gear, for turning said ring in the samedirection from its normal position against the action of said springs,substantially as described.

7. In a shock absorber for'vehicles, a circularly movable springcontrolled ring and means operated by bOtll th6 up and down movements ofthe vehicle body relative to its running gear for turning said ring inthe same direction from its normal position against the action of itscontrolling springs, substantially as described.

8. In a shock absorber for vehicles, a circularly movable ring, aplurality of c-springs controlling it, and means operated by both the upand down movements of the vehicle body relative to its running gear formoving said ring in the same direction from its normal position againstthe action of said controllmg springs, substantially as described.

In testnnony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DUNCAN ROBINSON. Witnesses B. J. NOYES, H. B. DAVIS.

